Mariners appoint Peninsula ambassadors

Two Central Coast Mariners will be football "ambassadors" on the Peninsula this season.

Mile Jedinak will be the ambassador for Umina United while Dean Heffernan will be the ambassador for Woy Woy.

"The Central Coast Mariners have further strengthened their ties with the Central Coast football family by re-launching their ambassador program for the A-League 2007-08 season," publicity officer Mr Benjamin Coonan said.

"The ambassador program allocates one Mariners squad or coaching staff member to each of the region's 22 local clubs, providing a link for each grass roots football organisation to their local heroes.

"During the course of a season, the Mariners are inundated with requests from local clubs to attend training, official functions and presentations, and the ambassador program guarantees each club their Mariners player at their event."

Mariners' executive chairman Mr Lyall Gorman said: "An important part of our success as a club off the field since our inception has been our integration with the local football family and the ambassador program is the perfect vehicle for us to promote this link.

"On the field, we have provided a unique pathway for local clubs to progress their best players to the A-League through our youth academy, while our ambassador program provides a direct link to our local clubs off the field, which is equally as important."

Mr Coonan said the Central Coast was home to over 15,000 registered soccer players, "a number greater than any other two sporting codes combined on the Central Coast".

The Mariners' next trial match will take place on Wednesday, June 27, when they will take on a selection of players from the Central Coast Premier League in the third annual Central Coast Charity Plate at Pluim Park.

Press release, 20 Jun 2007 Benjamin Coonan, Central Coast Mariners